Safety razor



Feb. 19, 1935. J. MUROS 1,992,038

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Aug. 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I a /3Z J0 k ao 49 49 34 J. URos SAFETY RAZOR Filed Aug. 22, lgzs ZSheets-Sheet 2 Iwbewior i750 Way Feb. '19, 1935.

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES.

SAFETY azor.

Joseph Muros, Belmont, Mass, assignor to Gil lette Safety Razor Company, Boston, Mass, a

v corporation of Delaware 7 Application Au ust 22, 1933,-Seri al No. 686,219

' '18 Claims.

This invention relates tov safety razors of the type in which a thin flexible blade is clamped between co-operating blade supporting members and maintained by them in position, for shaving. in one aspect the inventioncomprises a novel razor construction of broad utility in which the position ofthe blade supporting members is controlled positively and accurately and with great convenience in operation to the user; In another aspect it consistsin improvements in the construction disclosed in my prior Letters Patent No. 1,9l2,461, granted June 6, 1933.

The present invention has an important field of use in safety razors employing pivotally mounted cap sections which are arranged to be swung laterally or transversely" from a closed blade clamping position to an open blade releasing position. A safety razor of this general type is'shown in my prior patent above referred to. In the construction of that patent worm mechanism is provided. for swinging the cap sections throughout their entire range of movement, that is, from wide open position to closed'position in which the blade is flexed and held clamped in a condition of pronounced transverse curvature. I have discovered that certain important advantages may be secured by relieving'the cap sections of the function of actually flexing the blade. For example and as herein shown, the swinging movement of the cap sections may be utilized merely as positioning these elements'in open and closed condition and may consequently be efliected rapidly and without regard for heavier mechanical duty than moving the weight of the parts themselves. Accordingly, a supplementary blade flexing mechanism may be provided, operating through a short path of movement for actually flexing and clamping the blade after the cap sections have been definitely brought to their shaving position. This heavier and slower acting mechanism may be further utilized in unclamping and releasing the blade .from its flexing pressure prior to the opening movement of the cap sections. Withthese objects in view an important feature of my invention consists in a rotary operating device, such as a worm efiectiv'e for simultaneously swinging the two cap sections and constructed and arranged,

at theconclusion of suchswinging' movement, to partake of a further relatively short blade-flexing or releasing movement which is imparted to it under conditions of good mechanical advantage and is made effective to flexor release the blade beneath the closed cap sections.

One manner'in which the desired results may be secured consists in arranging the worm or other rotary operating device fora limitedaxial movement at the conclusion of the closing movement of the cap sections and in utilizing this movement to flex the'bladein coroperationfwith .the already positioned cap sections. As herein shown, 5 a blade-clamping plate is provided which is moved bodily toward the cap sections with the operating worm and whose pressure applying and releasing movements are therefor effected .by screw operated means} :4 i I Another feature of. my invention consists in the combination of pivotally 'mounted'cap sections with abutments for positively limiting the closing movement of the cap sections and thus'determining accurately the closed or shavingposition'of .15 these parts in the razor and locking'them so that the worm may react against them in' its axial movement.

'These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illu's't'rationand shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a'view in perspective on an enlarged scale of a safety razor embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 isaview in cross 'section on a still larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the razor head through one of theblade-locating studs, for ex- 3 ample, on the line 3 -3 of Fig.4;

Fig. tie a longitudinal section of the razor head on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; j

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 except that the clamping plate is shown in its lower or blade-releasing position;

Fig. 6 is'a similar view showing the cap sections in their open position; and i Fig. '7 is a plan view ofthe razor head with the cap sections in open position. v

In its general organization the safety razor herein shown comprises a support to which are pivoted co-operating cap sections, a blade-carrier, such as a blade-clamping or elevator plate, movable bodily between the support and the cap'sections to flex'or release an interposed blade, and operating mechanism conveniently mounted in the razor handle'for swinging the cap sections and moving the clamping blade carrier plate in' the proper timed relation forclamping or releasing the blade.

' The support comprises an elongated plate 10 recessed at its corners and in its longitudinal edges to form near each corner an integral lat- .erally-projecting arm 12. The cap. sections are movably mounted between the arms 12, as will presently be explained. Upon the bottom of the plate 10 is formed a flat central boss 14 and in this and the body of the plate 10 is formed a fiat circular recess or chamber. The tubular head 16 of the handle is permanently connected to the boss 14 by being spun or riveted into a countersunk opening therein. The head' 16 is shouldered to receive a tubular barrel 18, the lower end of the barrel 18 being closed and the handle completed by a flanged cylindrical head j 28 which is provided with a deep annular groove fitting telescopically about the end of the barrel.

Superposed upon the stationary plate 10 of the frame is a vetrically movable blade carrier comprising a plate 22 provided with diamond-shaped openings to receive loosely a pair of diamondshaped studs 20 which project upwardly from the plate 10 and are riveted in place upon the same. The elevator plate 22 corresponds in length to the supporting plate 10 and is also of substantially the same width but is beveled at its upper outer edges to form fulcrum shoulders over which the blade may be flexed in co-cperation with the cap sections. The plate 22 is centrally apertured to receive freely the upper end of an operating shaft 24,-the latter being journaled in the tubular head 16 of the handle and provided near its upper end with a worm 26 which substantially fills the recess in the boss 14. The upper face of the worm is flat and constitutes a support upon which rests the plate 22.

At its lower end the operating shaft24 is rigidly secured to the cylindrical head 28, by having its end riveted into a countersunk opening therein. The head serves as convenient operating means by which the shaft 2 may be rotated and the various different functions of the safety razor elements thus controlled, as will presently appear. A washer 3O rests upon the inner hub of the head 28 within the barrel 18; and between this and the head 16 of the handle is interposed a stiff compression spring 32 tending at all times to push the operating shaft 24 downwardly and seat the lower surface of the worm 26 upon the bottom of the chamber in the boss 14. The plate 22 as already explained rests upon the upper flat face of the worm 26 and the effect of the compression spring 32 is to maintain the shaft-.24, the worm 26 and the clamping plate 22 in their lowermost position. A retaining ring or sleeve 34 is secured within the end of the handle barrel 18 to hold the washer and spring in place and make a self-contained unit of the handle assembly and also to hold the washer 30 slightly above the hub of the head 28 and thus relieve the latter of frictional drag on the washer.

The cap sections are transversely curved, having inner concave blade-shaping faces which co-operate with the generally convex upper surface of the clamping plate 22 to impart a pronounced transverse curvature to a flexible blade interposed between the two. Each cap section 40 is cut-away along its outer edge to afford passage for the edge of the blade and is provided at each end with an arm 42 and these are secured, outside the arms 12 of the supporting plate 10, to the opposite ends ofa long pivot or spindle 44 which is journaled in these arms. Surrounding the spindles 44 between the arms 12 are long tubular sleeves 46 which are also fast to the spindles 44, turning with them and with the cap sections 40. Each tubular sleeve 46 is provided midwayof its length withworm teeth 48 and these at all times mesh with the teeth of the worm 26.

Each tubular sleeve is also provided with guard teeth 49 cut into that portion of its periphery which is exposed below the edge of the blade 1 when the cap sections are swung into their closed position.

The safety razor herein described is adapted for use with any thin flexible double-edged blade internally recessed 'to receive the blade-locating studs 20, such a blade 50 being shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. '7. It is provided with an elongated internal aperture 52 having spaced transverse enlargements designed to receive the studs 20. w

When the cap sections are swung into their,

barrel 18 and the retaining ring 34 by a substantial distance.

In order to close the'razor the operator has only to turn the operating head 28 in a clock- Wise direction. whereupon, the worm 26, which is of relatively large diameter acts to swing the cap sections 40 quickly inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 5, wherein they meet at their inner edges but are spaced substantially above the blade 50 and positively arrested by engaging the top of the studs 20. During this movement the spring 32 takes the thrust of the worm and it has no axial movement. When further swinging movement of the cap sections is prevented by the studs 20 the spring 32 begins to yield and, in the continued turning of the operating head 28, the worm 26 is screwed upwardly, reacting against the now stationary wormteeth 48 of the sleeves 46. In this movementthe clamping plate 22 is carried upwardly, sliding upon the studs 20, and the blade 50 is flexed transversely between the concave surface of the closed cap sections 40 and the convex surface of the blade-clamping plate 22. The degree of transverse flexing and consequently the amount of edge exposure of the blade is thus under adjustable control. By backing off the operating head 28 a fraction of a turn from its limiting position the flexing. pressure upon the blade is slightly released and it is allowed to straighten out with a resulting increase in the edge exposure of the blade.

Th longitudinal movement of the operating shaft 24, incident to the bodily shifting of the worm, takes place against the yielding pressure of the compression spring 32 until the end of the purpose of cleaning or of replacing the blade the operator has only to turnthe head 28 in the opposite direction, whereupon the worm 26 first screws itself downwardly until arrestedby contact with the bottom of the recesses in which it is enclosed. The blade-clamping or elevator plate 22. actuated by the spring 32, follows down with the worm 26 until the two reach the position sho'vmin Fig. 5

wherein the blade 50 is entirely released from contact with the cap sections and is permitted to assume a fiat condition.

It will be understood that the downward pressure imparted to the shaft 24and worm 26 by the compression spring 32 causes the downward bodily movement of these parts to continue through to its limit without any swinging movement being imparted to the cap sections 40. This is because the worm 26,'in this portion of the cycle, not only has nothing to take its thrust but that the spring 32 is effective to displace the worm downwardly as fast as is permitted to move by the turning of the worm thread in the now stationary worm teeth of the sleeves 46. However, when the downward movement of the worm is arrested and thrust upon it taken by the bottom of its recess, further turning of the head 28 is effective to swing the cap sections 40 rapidly into their open position and the parts of the razor are again brought to the position shown in Fig. 6. i

The term. worm is used herein in a broad sense to include any rotary operating device having threads or other spiral configuration serving to impart to the cap sections the desired swinging movement and to the operating device the desired longitudinal movement.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A safety razor having a support, co-operating cap sections pivotally mounted thereon, a clamping plate movable with respect to the support and also toward or from said cap sections when they are in closed position, and unitary operating mechanismfor swinging the cap sections to the closing limit of their movement and then, at the conclusion of such swinging movement, moving the clamping plate in definite timed relation.

2. A safety razor having a support, co-operating cap sections pivotally mounted thereon, a blade carrier movable with respect to the support and also towardor from said cap sections when they are in closed position, and unitary operating mechanism for first closing the cap sections and then moving the blade carrier toward them to flex an interposed blade.

3. A safety razor having a support, co-operating cap sections pivotally mounted thereon, a

blade carrier located above the support and movable bodily toward or from said cap sections when they are in closed position, and unitary operating mechanism for first lowering the blade carrier from the cap sections and then, when this has been effected, swinging the latter into open position.

i. A safety razor having a stationary support with guard teeth thereon, cap sections pivotally. mounted to swing transversely upon the support from closed to open position, a clamping plate bodily movable'toward and from the closed cap sections and unitary operating means for. so moving the plate and also for swinging the cap sections.

5. A safety razor having a stationary support with guard teeth at both edges, cap sections pivotally mounted to swing into contiguous position above the support, a clamping plate movable up and down between the support and the closed cap sections in flatwise position, and operating means for said plate.

6. A safety razor having a stationary support with rocking guard teeth at both its edges, cap sections pivotally mounted to swing into contiguous position above said support, a clamping plate movable betweenthe support and the closed cap sections, and operating mechanism for swinging said cap sections which is also operative for moving the clamping plate-when the. sections reach abutting relation. v

7. A safety razorf having a support with a pro- J'ecting abutment, cap sections pivotally mounted upon the support, a clamping plate, and operating means for swinging the cap sections until arrest- 8, A safety razor having a support, blade-locating lugs projecting therefrom, a blade clamping plate movable up anddown upon said lugs, cap sectionspivotally mountedbeyond the edges of the clamping plate and arranged to be-positively located in closed position by engagement-with said lugs, a longitudinally movable shaft having a rotary operating connection with said cap sections, and means for positively limiting the longitudinal movement of the shaft.

9. A safety razor having a handle terminating in a support and containing an operatingtshaft urged yieldingly at all times in one direction, sectional cap members carried by the support, a guard, a clamping plate movable between the support and guard, and rotary operating connections between said shaft and the sectional cap member, the position of the clamping plate being determined by the longitudinal position of the shaft.

10. A safety razor having pivotally mounted cap sections, a movable blade-clamping plate, a worm connected to the cap sections for swinging the latter in its rotation and having also provision for alimited axial movement with said clamping plate, and operating means for the worm, the worm being yieldingly operated during its axial blade-releasing movement and positively supported during its rotary cap opening movement.

11. A safety razor having pivotally mounted cap sections, a movable blade-clamping plate, and a worm connected to the cap sections for swinging the latter in its rotation and having also provision for a limited axial movement, means for positively taking the thrust of the worm while the cap sections are being closed, and for yieldingly taking the thrust of the worm while they are being opened.

12. A safety razor having co-operating cap sections moimted for swinging movement, a worm having a threaded connection with both cap sections, a movable blade-clamping plate, and an abutment for positively limiting the swinging movement of said sections, the worm being thereafter axially moved by reason of its connection with said sections and carrying the clamping plate with it in such latter movement.

13. A safety razor having co-operating cap sections mounted for, swinging movement upon a support, a rotatable. worm geared to the cap sections and axially movable with respect to the support, a blade-clamping plate movably mount- 7 ed in the razor, means for rotating the worm to stop for arresting said sections when swung into closed position, a movable blade-flexing plate 00- operating with said sections, and operating means for swinging said sections'until arrested by the stop and for thereafter moving thebladeflexing plate.

15. A safety razor having a handle with a shaft therein mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement, a worm on the shaft, a pair of cap sections pivotally mounted at their outer edges and. geared to the worm, means for arresting the cap sections at a predetermined point in their travel whereby continued rotary movement of the worm is translated into longitudinal movement thereof, and a blade-flexing plate movably mounted in the path of the worm.

16. A safety razor having a tubular handle with a shaft mounted therein for rotary and longitudinal movement, a worm at one end of the shaft, a pair of pivoted cap sections geared to the worm, a spring tending always to move the shaft in one direction, means for arresting the cap sections when they have been moved by the rotation of the Worm to a predetermined position, translated into longitudinal movement of the worm and shaft and the spring compressed, and

whereby continued rotary ,movement is,

worm mounted for rotary movement and also longitudinal movement with respect to said support and arranged for simultaneously swinging said cap sections to or from closed position, a. spring tending at all times to move said worm toward one limit of its path of longitudinal movement, and a clamping plate located between the cap sections and said support and positioned by said worm.

JOSEPH MUROS. 

